Lizard Lanyard

Bead Projects

Lizard lanyards
are fun to make! This is a great craft
project for tweens and teens.

You can add a ring to the end of the
lizard to become a zipper pull or a key chain.

All you need are some
pony beads and lanyard (plastic lace) or cord. I learned this craft
from my niece and
nephew, who had fun making many different color combinations for their
lizards.

This would make a great camp craft for teens!

Materials Needed for one Lizard:

Approximately 3
yards of lanyard/plastic lace (or
yarn, ribbon, any cord of choice)

27 yellow pony
beads (or color of choice)

22 orange pony beads
(or color of choice)

2 black beads

Scissors

Lizard Lanyard Instructions

Note:
In these instructions, I will refer to yellow and orange beads since
that is the color combination I chose for this lizard. Please
substitute any color combination you choose. The lizards look best with
two contrasting colors. It is helpful to refer to the pattern below. Click
here to print out the pattern.

1. Begin by stringing on three yellow beads on to
the cord. Thread the beads to the middle of the cord. Next, bring the
two beads on the outside, below the center bead to form a triangle. To
get this shape to stay, thread the other side of the cord back through
the bottom two beads so they are double-threaded. Use the photos to
help. Then, tighten the cord by pulling the ends.

2. Next, thread on black bead, yellow bead, and black bead on the right
side of the cord (first photo). Bring these beads beneath the center
triangle you just made (photo 2). Then, take the left end of the cord
(that doesn't have beads threaded on) and thread this back through all
three beads so they are double-threaded (photos 3 and 4). Then, tighten
the cords up. This is the threaded procedure you can follow to make the
entire lizard. Just follow the pattern above. At first the lizard head
will not seem "tight" and will be loose. Just take your time tightening
as you go. Once you add the legs (the next step) everything starts to
"tighten" up.

3. To make the legs, thread two yellow beads,
followed by three orange
beads. Do this on each side of the cord (photo 1). Bring the same end
of the cord back through the yellow beads only (photo 2). Do this on
each side (photo 3).

4. Continue threading beads according to the
pattern. Add on the bottom
legs the same as you did with the top legs.

5. When you finish the lizard's tail, tie a double knot to secure, and
cut off the excess lanyard cord.

6. Your lizard lanyard is complete!

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